Hamas condemns Israeli orders to evacuate 3 Gaza hospitals as ‘criminal plan for displacement’

By Nour Abuaisha​​​​​​​

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) - Hamas condemned Israel’s orders Tuesday to evacuate three hospitals in northern Gaza as a “criminal attempt to implement a displacement plan.”

“The Israeli army’s warning to evacuate Kamal Adwan, the Indonesian, and Al-Awda hospitals of patients and medical staff is a criminal attempt to carry out Tel Aviv’s displacement plans,” Hamas said in a statement.

“This terrorist threat against hospitals and the forced evacuation is tantamount to a death sentence for thousands of patients and wounded individuals, including women, the elderly, and children.”

The Palestinian resistance group urged “the UN and all international institutions to act immediately to stop this crime and take measures to protect medical centers and hospitals, while ensuring they receive fuel, equipment, and medical supplies.”

The Gaza Health Ministry said earlier that the Israeli army demanded that patients and staff be evacuated at the Kamal Adwan Hospital, the Indonesian Hospital and the Al-Awda Hospital.

The army threatened the hospitals with “destruction, killing, and arrest” if they did not evacuate, similar to what happened at the Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, which has been besieged for weeks at a time since last November, it added.

The Israeli army announced Sunday the beginning of a military operation in Jabalia, claiming it was to "prevent Hamas from regaining strength in the area," following hours of fierce attacks on the eastern and western areas of northern Gaza in the most intense fighting since May.

Witnesses reported that Israeli ground military vehicles reached areas in northwestern Gaza.

Earlier Tuesday, the Israeli army warned Palestinians to evacuate their homes in Jabalia town and its camp and head south through a "safe corridor," while the Gaza Interior Ministry cautioned residents about complying because it is "deception and lies."

On Monday, the army began forcibly displacing Palestinians from three towns in northern Gaza, in what appears to be the unofficial implementation of the “Generals' Plan,” aimed at clearing northern Gaza and imposing a full siege, potentially paving the way for settlement expansion.

Israel has continued a brutal offensive on Gaza following an attack by Hamas last October, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.

Nearly 42,000 victims have since been killed, mostly women and children, and nearly 97,600 injured, according to local health authorities.

The onslaught has displaced almost the entire population of the territory amid an ongoing blockade that has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine.​​​​​​​

Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio